Congolese government must act after death of human rights activist
Deep concern over the recent death of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and the "increased oppression against Congolese human rights defenders" during the past year was expressed by the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in a letter to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 4 June.
Chebeya was the executive director of La Voix des Sans-Voix (Voice of the Voiceless), one of the DRC's most important human rights organizations. Chebeya's body was found in his car Wednesday morning. He had been called to a meeting with the national police chief, which did not take place, the previous night.
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit urged the DRC government "to act as agents of the rule of law" and added: "The government has a responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of its citizens and should demonstrate this respect by conducting a full, open and transparent investigation into the death of Mr Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and the fate of his driver, Mr Fidele Bazana Edadi."
Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, UN investigator Philip Alston said the circumstances of the death "strongly suggested official responsibility".
"Mr Chebeya was respected by our whole church for his commitment to the promotion of human rights and his dedication to the defence of the weak. He embodied the hope for the implementation of rule of law in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for which we are calling with all our heart," stated the national president of the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) Bishop Pierre Marini Bodho in a message published on Sunday, 6 June.
The DRC government has ordered an inquiry into Chebeya's death and suspended the national police chief, John Numbi. The body of Chebeya's driver was found in the locality of Mpasa on Thursday, according to media reports.
La Voix des Sans-Voix is part of the WCC human rights defenders network in Africa. Chebeya was a member of the planning committee of a human rights workshop that the WCC and other Christian organizations held in Kinshasa last April. At the ecumenical workshop, Congolese church leaders committed themselves to promote respect for human dignity and fundamental human rights.
Full text of the WCC general secretary's letter
Full text of the ECC statement (in French, pdf)
WCC member churches in the DRC
